Chapter 10

Harry had never been a heavy sleeper. His roommates had gotten used to this slight problem and had placed a silencing charm around his bed. This may have been a good plan at the time, but this night was different. If the charm had been removed, Ron would have heard Harry screaming himself hoarse. Harry had been sleeping soundly at first, but was awoken when he felt a burning sensation flare up on his back. It spread from the middle of his back and continued to grow across his shoulder blades and onto his arms. If Harry could formulate a thought through all the pain he probably would be comparing this pain to the pain of the crutasius curse. Finally, after what seemed like hours, the pain subsided and Harry quickly fell asleep from sheer exhaustion.

The next morning Harry woke up and sat up with a start. He quickly regretted that decision when pain shot up his back. It was only then that he remembered the night before. He slowly got out of bed and proceeded to put his trousers on. He reached for his t-shirt when he heard Ron behind him exclaim:

"Bloody hell Harry! What happened!?"

"What do you mean?" Harry asked.

"Your back. Why didn't you tell me you got a tattoo?"

"What do you mean? I haven't got a tattoo?"

"Well you do now." Ron said.

He conjured up a large mirror so that Harry could see his back. When he saw what was there Harry gasped. Spread across the whole of his back was a phoenix. Its wingspan covered his shoulders and the tail came to the small of his back. And if a tattoo appearing in the middle of nowhere wasn't odd enough, the tattoo was moving. It looked and moved like a real phoenix.

"I guess there is no covering up the fact that it's a magical tattoo." Harry said jokingly. How else was he supposed to respond? He had really hoped that nothing else would happen that would make him stand out more, but so much for that wish.

"I guess it's time to go see Dumbledore again. I thought I could make it one week without going up to that office. Guess not." Harry said as he put on his shirt. Ron merely nodded and followed Harry down to the common room. Just before they walked into the open Harry turned to Ron.

"Look lets not tell Hermione just yet. She'll freak out and spend the entire day in the library. We're going to see Dumbledore so if he doesn't know what it is, I doubt Hermione would know. So  let's just keep this between ourselves for now okay?"

" Right Harry. No problem."

They stepped out and saw Hermione and Ginny by the fireplace looking over a large tome.

"Hi guys." Harry said. "Did you have a good night?"

"Yes." Hermione answered. "What about you?"

"Harry got a tattoo on his back." Ron blurted out. Harry turned just in time to see Ron slap his hands over his mouth.

"Good job Ron." Harry said as the two girls looked at him. "It's not that big of a deal really."

"Not a big deal!" Ron said. "It covers his entire back and it moves. Defiantly magical."

"Harry that's a really serious thing. Tattoos don't usually appear out of nowhere. Do you think that You Know Who has anything to do with it? Did you talk to Dumbledore yet? Does it hurt?"

"Whoa Hermione. Slow down. No. We're going right now. And sort of. That's all. We were just going to go to Dumbledore's office first before we gave you anything to worry about is all. It could just be another part of my inheritance. That's all."

Hermione looked skeptical. Harry and Ron had always had a habit of under playing lots of things unless  it was Quidditch. Still, ever since Harry had gotten his powers, there was no denying that he was different. It's just that Hermione wished they would take things more seriously. The war was picking up and Harry needed to be more aware of his role. In the end, Hermione just shook her head, maybe Dumbledore could straighten things out.

"Fine then. We're both going with you though."

"Well that's sort of a given, now that you know." Harry said.

With that the group headed out. Waking up the Fat Lady who wasn't too appreciative. Still, they made their way to the gargoyle. Harry opened his mouth to say the password, but much to his surprise, the statue bowed and moved revealing the staircase. Harry looked at his friends and just shrugged. How was he supposed to know what happened? They stepped on the stairs and moved up to the office. When they entered, they saw Dumbledore at his desk, pouring over what looked to be a set of very ancient scrolls.

"Good morning professor?" Harry said.

Dumbledore looked at the group over his half moon spectacles.

"Well good morning. To what do I owe this pleasure, especially this early in the morning?"

The group turned to Harry expectantly. Suddenly Harry didn't want to tell Dumbledore. He already had so much to deal with, why would he care about a 'little' tattoo.

"It's nothing sir." Harry said turning to leave. However. He was stopped by three people standing between him and the door.

"Tell him." Ginny said sternly.

" Did anyone ever tell you that you sound like your mother when your ordering people around." Harry said with a smile.

"Won't work. Tell him."

Harry sighed and turned back around to Dumbledore's twinkling eyes.

"Well sir, you see last night I kinda had a dream and woke up with a small change."

"Well Harry it can't be that bad. I assume your scar is fine because I don't see any change."

"It wasn't exactly my scar."

Harry turned and lifted up the back of his shirt. Behind him he heard Dumbledore gasp in surprise. That made Harry nervous because Dumbledore never sounded surprised at anything. This reaction definitely wasn't a good sign.